MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

6/20 Cubs sign more Draft picks

The Cubs’ have officially signed right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson, who was the team’s second-round pick in the First-Year Player Draft, for the recommended slot of $1.196 million. The team announced the signing on Wednesday. Johnson of Arvada, Colo., got a head start on the signing, announcing it on June 11 on Twitter: “Just signed with the Chicago Cubs! Thanks to God, family, teammates, coaches, and friends. If it wasn’t for you guys I wouldn’t be here!” He was the 43rd overall pick in the Draft, selected in the supplemental round as compensation for the departure of free agent Aramis Ramirez. Johnson was selected out of high school by the Rays in the 15th round of the 2009 Draft, but opted to go to college and attended Missouri State. Johnson, 21, had a 2.53 ERA in 14 starts for Missouri State, recording a single-season school record 119 strikeouts to lead the Missouri Valley Conference. He helped lead the Bears to their first NCAA Regional appearance in nine years.

The Cubs also have signed four more pitchers and an outfielder who were selected in the Draft. The list includes left-hander Anthony Prieto (fifth round) for $200,000; right-hander Chad Martin (10th round) for $10,000; outfielder Bijan Rademacher (13th); right-hander Michael Hamann (16th) signed for $100,000; and right-hander Eduardo Orozco (22nd) signed for $1,000. The Cubs now have signed 21 of the players selected in the Draft.

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